Summerfolk Tickets
Nina and Moses Raine adapt Nobel Prize nominee Maxim Gorky’s razor-sharp play about politics, privilege, class and denial.
Summerfolk in London!
Get ready for a remarkable summer with Summerfolk. This bold new adaptation of Nobel Prize nominee Maxim Gorky’s biting play about privilege, the upper classes and willful ignorance returns to the National Theatre, Bankside, for the first time in over two decades. Summerfolk comes to the National Theatre’s Olivier Stage for a strictly limited run this summer - dont miss this rich “tapestry of desire and loss” (Variety), secure your tickets today.
What is the play Summerfolk about?
During the scorching hot summer of 1905, an elite group of the bourgeoisie retreat to a countryside estate in rural Russia to relax, gossip, drink champagne, swim… and start affairs. In the bubble of their idyllic summer holiday, all their worries feel a million miles away - but one partygoer, Varvara, can’t help but feel they’re living on borrowed time. As a political storm builds on the horizon, how long can the friends shut out the real world?
The History of Summerfolk
Summerfolk was written in 1904 and premiered at the Komissarzhevskaya Theatre in Saint Petersburg in November 1905. The production had its British premiere in 1974 at the Aldwych theatre, in a production by the Royal Shakespeare Company. It has since been revived many times both in the UK and internationally, most recently at the National Theatre in 1999, in an adaptation by Nick Dear, directed by Trevor Nunn. The 1999 production earned Nunn an Evening Standard, Olivier and Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Director. This bold new production marks Summerfolk's return to the National Theatre for the first time in over two decades, and features a new adapted script by Nina and Moses Raine.
Who are the cast of Summerfolk?
- Sasha - Rebecca Banatvala
- Maxim Zimin - Thomas Barrett
- Sonya - Tamika Bennett
- Pavel Ryumin - Pip Carter
- Semyan Dvoyetochiye - Peter Forbes
- Nikolai Zamislav - Brandon Grove
- Pyotr Suslov - Arthur Hughes
- Kroplikin - Sam Jenkins-Snow
- Olga Dudakova - Gwyneth Keyworth
- Yakov Shalimov - Daniel Lapaine
- Vlass - Alex Lawther
- Yulia Suslova - Adelle Leance
- Kaleria - Doon Mackichan
- Maria Lvovna- Justine Mitchell
- Sergei Bassov - Paul Ready
- Varvara Bassova - Sophie Rundle
- Kirill Dudakov - Sid Sagar
- Pustobaika - Richard Trinder
Who are the creative team of Summerfolk?
Robert Hastie directs. Hastie is the Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre and the former Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres, and Associate Director of the Donmar Warehouse. His credits include Standing at the Sky’s Edge at the National, Sheffield Crucible and West End, Operation Mincemeat in the West End and on Broadway, Much Ado About Nothing at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, and Hamlet at the National Theatre.
Summerfolk is written by Maxim Gorky. This new adaptation is from siblings Nina Raine and Moses Raine.
Maxim Gorky (1868 -1936) was a Russian and Soviet writer, journalist, activist and philanthropist. Best known for his politically progressive works that promoted socialism and opposed the Tsarist regime, Gorky was a five-time nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature. His best-known works include novels Mother and The Artamonov Business, and plays The Lower Depths and The Philistines.
Nina Raine is a British playwright and director. Her works include Rabbit, Tribes, Tiger Country, and Consent starring Anna Maxwell Martin. She is an Evening Standard and Critic’s Circle Award winner and a fellow of the Royal Society for Literature.
Moses Raine is a British playwright. He is a Verity Bargate Award nominee. His works include Donkey Heart, Shrieks of Laughter, and The Survival Handbook.
Tickets for Summerfolk at The National Theatre!
Summerfolk promises a truly unforgettable summer holiday. This breathtaking, political play is “a scathing portrait of the new Russian professional class at leisure” (Guardian), in a bold new adaptation by award-winning writers Nina Raine and Moses Raine. Book your tickets for Summerfolk at the National Theatre’s Olivier stage today.
This production contains strong language and sexist attitudes. It includes depictions of alcohol and drug use, and references to sex and suicide.
Summerfolk London Reviews
User Reviews
Fantastic ensemble cast. It was a funny play and, although it was nearly three hours long, there was so much going on that the time flew by. It made me want to go and read the play to see if I missed any nuance.
Show Times
| Matinee | Evening | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | - | - |
| Tuesday | - | - |
| Wednesday | 2.00pm | - |
| Thursday | - | - |
| Friday | - | 7.30pm |
| Saturday | 2.00pm | 7.30pm |
| Sunday | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are Summerfolk tickets?
Summerfolk tickets are priced from £24 to £106.
Where is Summerfolk playing in London?
Summerfolk is playing at the National Theatre - Olivier, National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX.
What is the age recommendation for Summerfolk?
Summerfolk is best for age 15+.
How long is Summerfolk?
The running time for Summerfolk at National Theatre - Olivier is 3 hours.
Is there an interval during Summerfolk?
Yes, there is a 15 minute interval about halfway through Summerfolk.
Can I buy tickets for Summerfolk at the box office?
Yes you can buy from the National Theatre - Olivier box office where you will pay the face value ticket price, sometimes with a small booking fee. Search on SeatPlan to get the best prices and deals in one search.
What is the refund / cancellation policy?
Tickets for Summerfolk are generally non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
SeatPlan works with multiple suppliers to find the best deal for you. Each supplier has their own refund and cancellation policy, which you can review on the payment page before you complete your purchase.
‘Summerfolk’ is a play that dramatizes the Russian bourgeois social class. It is a real character study focusing on family and friends and how all their lives are intertwined. Firstly written in 1905, this new translation brings it very much up to ‘Summerfolk’ is a play that dramatizes the Russian bourgeois social class. It is a real character study focusing on family and friends and how all their lives are intertwined. Firstly written in 1905, this new translation brings it very much up to date. Running at nearly three hours long, it did take some time to get going but once it did, I found it very entertaining. The second half in particular makes use of the huge Oliver theatre stage including having a woodland with a river on stage! With a huge cast ensemble of around 25 actors, this was a humorous, evocative piece. As you are watching the privileged elite socialise in front of you on stage, you could see the lower classes slowly start to take hold and spill onto the stage towards the end, ready for the ensuing revolution which is just around the corner….. Read more